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Spreading the love and laughter

Patch Adams, the doctor made famous by Robin Williams' portrayal in the movie of the same name, will bring his theories on health care to the University today.

Sponsored by the University Programs Council as this year's Thomas Jefferson visiting lecturer, Adams will present a free comedy show entitled "The Joy of Caring" to students and health care professionals.

Adam's show, which is open to the public, will take place tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall. A book signing will follow.

The Cavalier Daily caught up with Adams at his free healthcare clinic, the Gesundheit Institute, and got his opinion on some diverse subjects.

On performing

"I'm on the road 300 days a year -- I took 22 clowns and 10 tons of aid to Afghanistan for four weeks. We addressed the horror of war and the evil our government did in invading it. Now I'm trying to encourage our nation to rise up against the government, which is clearly ignoring the Constitution, which is one of the thrills of being a Jefferson lecturer. I'm here to reaffirm Jefferson's call to reaffirm the power of the people. I will be working with performance partner Dr. Susan Parenti -- she started a school for designing a society, a school to make social change artists."

On caring

"Celebrations of care make how we care and love other people our value system, instead of greed and power. My father dying in the civil rights movement made my life's purpose to work for peace and justice and care."

On politics

"Bush is the most dangerous political leader in our history...you can include Cheney, Ashcroft and Rumsfield. This is a Thomas Jefferson lecture, and imagine how much he would like someone who broke five of the Bill of Rights. How would he feel toward someone who broke them? Would he think he was an American? The title of the talk is 'The Joy of Caring,' something our president wouldn't know if it slapped him in the face. You don't get a sense from the media that we are a society steeped in compassion. The media wants to promote the status quo."

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